Scout Grade

Scouting Report

ESPN AnalystUpdated null

Right off the bat Clowney grabs your attention with a very impressive physical presence. In that 6-foot-6 range he carries his weight well and for a kid at about 230 pounds he has room to pack on a significant amount of bulk as he continues to physically develop. He possesses a nice wingspan and has a very physical nature to him and displays good strength. He looks to enjoy contact and will deliver some big hits. As a pass rusher he is tough to contain as he uses his long limbs and hands to club and punch by blockers. He also can be very quick off the ball. He plays with a good motor and will pursue to the ball. He also possesses excellent straight-line game speed which allows him to be a factor on plays all over the field and has good overall athleticism. He is still young and growing as a player. He needs to watch his pad level as he can play tall. He is physical when engaging blockers, but needs to use his hands and reach more to his advantage to create separation and shed against the run. He also needs to work on his tackling. He can deliver big blows and slam ball carriers to the turf, but needs to work on wrapping up at times to secure more tackles. It is clear this is a good defender and a kid worthy of the attention he is getting. He also displays versatility and is able to make plays on defense, offense, and special teams, though the majority of his time in college will be spent at defensive end. He needs to keep working on some of the 'little things' that the position requires, but he is a kid capable of creating big plays and being a difference maker. His nickname is simply "JD", but 'Big Play J' may be a more suitable one. ... for full access to RecruitingNation become an Insider